Heather Harris: A kid's challenge to himself

Friday

Aug 17, 2012 at 12:01 AMAug 17, 2012 at 5:15 PM

Each year, we take the kids to Maine and spend a glorious week on a somewhat-secluded beach. There is no cellphone service, no television, iTouch or computer, just an old clock radio that provides music when you tire of listening to the surf.

Heather Harris

The Harris-family summer vacation, 2012 version, is over.

Each year, we take the kids to Maine and spend a glorious week on a somewhat-secluded beach. There is no cellphone service, no television, iTouch or computer, just an old clock radio that provides music when you tire of listening to the surf.

This year, I watched my 4-year-old daughter, Vivien, dance her way across the sand. Each step she took was filled with childhood joy, each leap into the waves filled with happy innocence.

My son, Dexter, 7, was treated to a skim-board this year. He practiced on the dry sand for hours before mustering up the courage to hit the wake. I found myself watching him with admiration. Usually when we introduce a new sport or physical activity to the kids, we have to talk them through the entire process, step-by-step. This was the first time that wasn’t the case.

In the glassy wet sand, Dexter’s face reflected back a look of determination, of confidence. It was something I hadn’t seen from him before. He waited patiently for the surf to come in just right before he gently threw the wooden board down and ran to jump on it.

Wipeout.

More than once my little towhead fell face first into the mud. But instead of getting discouraged, he popped up, re-examined the situation and gave it another try. Dexter wasn’t looking for praise or a high-five. He was doing it for himself, unaware he even had an audience. He was doing it for the pure gratification one receives when he challenges himself.

Finally, after days of trying, he got it. He gave a slight smirk, and that was it, he didn’t look up to see if anyone was watching, he didn’t need any exterior praise.

I didn’t yell out and cheer for him, there was no trophy given, no award, and no hug.

But I could tell he was proud of himself, and I was proud of him for not giving up. Even more so that he did it without receiving a tangible “award”.

Dexter’s prize came from within.

Heather Harris is reporter for the Norton Mirror, Mansfield News and Easton Journal in Massachusetts. A three-sport high school athlete and two-sport college athlete, sports have long been a passion of hers. The mother of two can be seen running through the streets of Mansfield where she currently resides. Heather Harris can be reached at hharris@wickedlocal.com